CNGM PICTURES, led by EP Michael P. Noens, has released the pilot episode of “Brightside,” a new original web series of seven 25-minute episodes.
However — the producers will hold the release of the remaining six episodes until the show has scored 10,000 subscribers to its YouTube channel.
“Before dropping everything all at once, we wanted to focus on building our viewership first,” says series creator Noens. “We decided to make our audience the studio executives who tell us through their subscriptions when the rest of the season will be available.”
The series is about a callous federal agent assigned to a team of investigators on time sensitive cases, where unbeknownst to them, their superior, Dr. Jim Brightside, can secretly hear the thoughts of others.
Featuring Chicago actors Patrick Pantelis as Dr. Jim Brightside, Becky Blomgren, Christopher Weise, Tricia Noens and Bill Redding.
“CHICAGO FIRE” EP JOE CHAPELLE will join director Colleen Griffen for Q&A after their Illinois-shot indie, “The Cold and the Quiet,” following its 7:30 p.m. Midwest premiere at Tuesday’s Midwest Independent Film Festival. Producer/director Griffen co-wrote the drama with Katie Oellerich, who stars. Cast includes Ellen Lancaster, Henry Godinez, Matthew Chappelle, Maura Chappelle, Susan Myburgh and Zeke Specter.
At Landmark Century Center Cinema. Doors open at 6 p.m. , Producers Panel, 6:30 p.m.
THE 21ST CHICAGO UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL (CUFF) gets underway April 2-6 with screenings, panel discussions, parties and live music at the Logan Theatre, 2646 N. Milwaukee. Opening night party features Chances Dances dance party, sponsored by Lagunitas brewery, at The Owl, 2521 W. Milwaukee, 10 p.m.
“DEACON’S CHOICE,” an indie drama from producer Keya R. Reaves about a powerful Chicago political family and the secret it has hidden for 30 years, will have a private screening for cast, crew, investors and others, April 3 at the Woodson Library, 9500 S. Halsted, at 6:30 p. m.
KARTEMQUIN’S GORDON QUINN will receive the “Master of Cinema” award during the April 4-13 RiverRun Film Festival, Winston-Salem, NC. Attending with Quinn will be Kartemquin’s executive director Justine Nagan and Kartemquin associates, directors Steve James and Peter Gilbert.
NEW AT KARTEMQUIN. Alison Hanold is the new Director of Development and Beckie Stocchetti, the new Community Engagement Manager. Stocchetti takes over many duties, including the internship program, Diverse Voices in Docs, KTQ Labs, and media advocacy, from Tim Horsburgh, whose new title is Director of Communications and Distribution.
Prizes will be awarded for Audience Awards and juried cash awards in the categories of Best … Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Short, and Animated or Experimental Film.
BULLETPROOF FILMS’ Carmine Cervi and Ilko Davidov have launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds to complete their doc-in-progress, “Nelson Algren: The End is Nothing, The Road is All.” The producers have invested nearly a decade to complete the film “about one of the most talented yet misunderstood writers of the 20th century.”
Indie Cinema is devoted to news of indie film production, screenings, festivals, awards et al. Send news with complete details to ruth@reelchicago.com.
